Friday, November 6-Friday, November 13. 2015

Friday afternoon we returned to the apartment for lunch, rested, and went back to Jalandoni.  We saw young brother Gison, who we helped with his resume and job search.  We have been here long enough now that we actually had some good ideas for him.  He is a newly returned missionary.  His sister, Meryl was a good friend and his parents are also very dear to me.  He did get a job from our leads and he starts November 16.  He's very excited.  We went home at 7pm and found that lizard that startled me two nights ago.  It hid behind our picture on the wall.  Ray swatted the picture, it ran out, hit it again, it fell on the edge of our table...disappeared.  I pulled out the table, looked under and around--aha--hiding on the side of the leg.  Ray got it, and onto the floor-smack-into the dust pan--out the door.  Aauugh!  😖. Snack, dishes, cleanup, read, bed.
Saturday routine, wash.  Ray has learned to cut pineapple in a spiral, save more fruit, and cut more deep spines out.  So...he cut a fresh pineapple for us for breakfast.  Went to Jalandoni at 9:30, seminary and institute teachers meeting and lunch.  I had a red ruffle blouse and a white ruffle skirt made to replace mine that were ruined with the iron in the water and Sister Cozzens brought them to me at the meeting--just love them.  At the meeting we watched a clip from President Clarks talk to seminary and institute teachers.  "We need to be found doing and being our best in everything so we can be the lights upon the shore, leading others to Christs light.  We need to ask the Lord two questions:  what am I doing that I should STOP?  2- What am I not doing that I should be doing?"  2:00 listening to BYU/SJSU football on KSL 17/16😜, 4:00 we attended stake conference.  After conference, we took Kate Sorilla with us to Mang Inasal for halo halo.  She's delightful.  She's planning to go to the states to nurse.  She is 30 and hopefully can meet a covenant keeper while she is there.  She is the landlords daughter.
Sunday 8:45 we left the apartment with 4 elders, 1 investigator, and 4 sisters.  Ray and I practiced with the choir.  I provided accompaniment for one song for the practice...on my ipad☺️ "Where Love Is".  Sister Gison brought me "ginger brew" and special Biscocho.  I'm going to take some Biscocho home and learn how to make the ginger brew before we leave.  I think it is delicious.  She made it for stake choir practice once and ever since she saw how much I liked it, she brings me some.  She is a beautiful wife, mother, friend--inside and out.  After conference, we came home and ate leftovers.  Loved Elder A. Robinson's letter.  I can't wait for Giovani and Julio to get married!  It is interesting how we are in three different countries around the world, Philippines, Chile, Sacramento, California, USA, and yet the stories and challenges are the same--marriage before they can be baptized.  It's everywhere.  The adversary has swept the world with his deceits but it is so inspiring when a person is taught Gods law and then "glows".  Heavenly Father gives us laws so we can be "in" on the eternal truths that govern the greatest happiness.  And Satan sells it as "control".
Monday we grocery shopped; went to the center; shopped for a gift for Ester, President Insigne's 18 year old daughter.  And we cut up watermelon to take to Sorilla's for dinner and fhe.  The parents are on their mission but Kyle 21 and Kate 30 invited us and the elders and two friends over.  It was fun and so cute of them.
Tuesday zone meeting and email from Charity--Dominic was baptized!  Zone meeting was mostly in Ilongo so we didn't get much from it except to enjoy the spirit.  It ended at 11:00 and we went to our office for a couple of hours.  Then we met the Streng missionary couple who serve in Kalibo/Roxas area.  We fed them lunch.  I had squash soup with wheat French bread and pumpkin cheesecake.  I got a heat bottle for Sister Strengs back and gave her a foot massage.  She will have an MRI tomorrow.  It has been three weeks since she fell.  They went to the mission home at 5:00 and we went to Jalandoni.  From there Kyle gave us a ride to Ester Insigne's 18th birthday celebration.  There were about 70 people there and a large catered restaurant dinner.  It probably cost the equivalent of three months rent for us here.  It was enjoyable.  Ester had a beautiful gold shiny gown and looked like a lovely real princess.  We left at 10:00 pm.
Wednesday did wash, purchased water, and by 9:30 went to the center.  We came home for lunch, brought laundry inside, went by the hospital to check on Strengs, returned to the center and taught our institute class 3-4:30, The Plan of Salvation.  Three were enrolled but only one showed up plus one that was not enrolled.  But the spirit was really strong.  After we went to the mission home.  Elder and Sister Streng are staying there.  We saw her MRI results and visited a couple of hours.  Sister Streng has a fractured compressed vertebrae from a fall three weeks ago when the heavy chair she was sitting in collapsed and broke.  They will be returning home soon.  We are so sad but anxious for her comfort.  The doctor said she has to stay flat in bed for three months.  They were scheduled to leave in February.  Anyway, we will be visiting there all we can to cheer her on.  7:10 we came home.
Thursday I called Cushings to let them know about Sister Streng.  Took a small pumpkin bar to Kate Sorilla as we were leaving for Jalandoni.  Kate is applying for a nursing job in the states--hopefully Salt Lake City.  We shopped at the Atrium and then went to Jalandoni.  Ray answered some emails; I wrote in my journal.  We later stopped at SM for the rest of our groceries and for some money.  We ate some chicken vegetable, noodle soup.  Ray is trying to get sick but he is fighting it so far.  We took a 15 minute rest, changed clothes and back to Jalandoni.  We are waiting for Elder and Sister Cushing to arrive here and then we will head to the mission home to enjoy a short visit with the Strengs.  We enjoyed our time with Sister Streng.  Elder Streng had already gone to Kalibo to pack up and pay bills and take care of every thing.  Sister Streng was in good spirits.  While we were there we changed into sparkling clothes.  The theme for the couples affair is "Rekindle the Spark" in our marriages.  We played games, watched each ward's talent dance (Mandurriao was in a different league all together.  They mostly had couples and they had a great dance routine).  We had dinner and danced the night away.  It ended at 10:00 at which time we took pictures and then took Brother Cozzens, who is giving a place to sleep to the Cushings, and Cushings to stay.
Friday, Ray is still fighting a virus, he doesn't feel great but he was an amazing dancer last night.  I did my exercise routine, showered, and cooked up a breakfast to take to Cozzens house to feed the six of us.  This morning Ray found a little lizard sharing his pillow😖.  We went to Cozzens about 8:00 with breakfast--bacon, eggs, hash browns, mango juice, and papaya.  We visited until 10:30 and took Cushings to SM and we went to Jalandoni.  1:00 to apartment for lunch, then to the mission home to spend time with Sister Streng(Ruby).  Returned home around 6:00.  Sister Robinson, Mom, Grandma